Motor vehicle



F. SPATZ MOTOR VEHICLE Feb. 16, 1937.

Filed March 5, 1934 w l Lm f e W w/ M N .bn 0 Sn? @QQ Wm ,7 IIJ. IHM Hi... mM S, 5L T7 mm l l url ha s .Q Nm@ w 1 IL Mm@ WN@ 1w n@ m.\ NN i.

Patented Feb. 16, 193'! i .A

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE Moron VEHICLE Fritz Spatz, VHaus Freyimfelde, Anexu- Halle on the Saale, Germany Application March 3, 1934, Serial No. 713,787 In Germany June 17, 1933 The invention relates to the construction of a. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the motor vehicle, in which the body is guttiform. vehicle and z Hitherto it was difcult in motor vehicles to ob- Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2. tain sulcient space Within the flow line form Two pairs of diverging springs 2 and 3 extend if, as was customary, the engine is arranged in opposite directions from a butt strap I. The vertical because in the iiow line shape particufront ends'of springs 2 rest on a ring-shaped axle larly the space in the foremost sharply upwardly 4 consisting of a welded length of tube bent in curved portion is occupied by the engine and is circular shape. Axle journals 5 around which the therefore not available for other purposes, wherefront wheels 6 rotate, are mounted on this ringas the iiow line descends relatively suddenly shaped axle. The front portion of the ringlo towards the rear, so that'the rear space does not shaped axle 4 situated in a higher plane than the afford suiiicient space for the passengers. rear portion of the axle is connected with a trans- Accordingto the invention, in order that the verse bar IBc between the arms IGa and IGb of engine occupies as little space as -possible in the forked front part of framev I6 by means of a. height, the axle is made in ring-.shape and the spring 23, the bent frontv end of which engages engine accommodated within this ring. If ahoriover a bolt joint 24 of the ring-shaped axle 4. zontal engine with radial cylinders is employed, 'I'he fork-shaped front part of frame I6 rests this will project only very slightly above the upon the butt strap I. ring-shapedaxle so that almost the. entire con- -The rear axle l, which may be made in one structional height of the engine is saved. By piece, is connected with the rear ends of the lowering the position of the engine, the running diverging springs 3. 2 characteristics of the `vehicle are. considerably 'I'he driving engine lies within the ring-shaped improved and space is saved above the engine axle 4, 'and its cylinders 8 are arranged for exand can be utilized for accommodating the driver ample horizontally and radially. The vertical 25 Since it allows ample room for his legs. driving shaft carries a horizontal bevel wheel 25 'I'he connection of the axles with the frame is 9, which meshes with a vertical bevel wheel on effected by two pairs of diverging springs, which a shaft Ill which drives the front wheels through springs extending from a butt strap on the frame the intermediary of transmission wheels II. are attached to the axles. 'I'he engine may be arranged in a similar man- 3o In order to improve the running characterner on the rear axle; 3o istics of the vehicle the frame must be supported A gear case 25 covers the engine and is conf so that it possesses the greatestpossible inertia nected, same as the engine, with the arms I6a,

and' remains, as far as possible, in its position also lsb of th'e forked front portion of frame I8. if the vehicle is subjected to jolts. At the same On the butt strap I an upright I2 is mounted time the body must not incline considerably in at the middle approximately in .the centreof 5 outward direction when the vehicle is negotiatlgravity plane of the vehicle. .This upright has a ing curves. 4 domed upper surface I3 which forms the sup- Therefore, according to the invention, the car porting surface forv the body. riage body is supported at a point situated above A sleeve I5 formed by an upwardly bent por- 40 its centre of gravity plane, so that no strong motion of the bottom plate of the body 20 terminates o ments in horizontal or in vertical direction can at the top in a supporting piece I4 which rests occur, which would bring the body out of its on the domed top end I3 of the upright I2'. equilibrium position. This may be effected by t- Springs I 1 connect the upright I2 with the frame i tingA on the butt strap to which the springs are I6, the frame arms I6a, I 6b and the front end I attached an upright, the upper supporting surof the butt 'strap I. face of which lies above the centre of gravity A guide pin I8 of the rear axle I engages in a plane of the body. In order to prevent horizontal recess in frame I6, an elastic lining I9 made 0f oscillations, damping devices, such as springs or rubber or the like being interposed between these elastic'bodies, are provided between the upright two parts.

and the frame. 'I'he sleeve I5 on the supporting upright I2 is 50 l' An embodiment of the invention is illustrated fitted in the vehicle so that it is as inconspicuous by way o! example in the accompanying drawing as possible; for example it forms a part of the in whichzback of the front seat.

Fig. 1 shows theunder portion of a motor The carriage body 20' is guttiform and has at vehicle in top plan view.A j its front end a Vwindow 2|, 'through 'which the f driver has a very clear view, because it is not obstructed by an engine bonnet.

The space 22 tapering to a Apoint on the rear end of the body serves as luggage compartment and for accommodating spare wheels. The space in the body is therefore very advantageously utilized in this arrangement. y

I'claimz- 1. A motor vehicle, comprising in combination a ring-shaped front axle, a rear axle, a joint plate intermediate said axles, two pairs of oppositely directed outwardly diverging springs extending from said joint plate and bearing respectively on said front axle and on said rear axle, an upright on said joint plate, a body, a frame carrying said body supported on the upper end oi. said upright above thev centre of gravity oi said body, and shock absorbing elements arranged between said upright and said frame and adapted to absorb horizontal oscillations.

2. A motor vehicle, comprising in combination a front axle, a rear axle, a butt-strap intermediate said two axles, two pairs of oppositely directed outwardly diverging springs extending from said butt-strap and bearing respectively on said front axle and on said rear axle, a frame, an upwardly projecting pin on said rearaxle, said irame having a recess adapted to engage over said pin, and rubber builers insaid recess transverse bar between the arms of said forkshaped part o! said frame, a bolt joint on the front portion of said front axle, and a spring iixed at its rear end on said transverse bar-and engaging at its front end over said bolt joint.

4. A motor vehicle, comprising in combination a ring-shaped iront axle, a rear axle, a butt strap intermediate said axles, two pairs of oppositely directed outwardly diverging springs extending from said butt strap and bearing respectively on said front axle and on said rear axle, a frame resting on said axles and on said butt strap, `an upright on said butt strap having Ia domed upper surface, a carriage body having a sleeve extending upwardly from the base of said body in the back of the drivers seat, a supporting element at the upper end of said sleeve and resting on the upper end of said upright support-4 ing said carriage body above its centre of gravity, and shock absorbing elements interposed between said upright and said frame and adapted to absorb horizontal oscillations.

5. lA motor vehicle, comprising in combination a front axle consisting of a horizontal ring, a rear axle, a butt strap intermediate said two axles, two pairs of oppositely directed outwardly diverging springs extending from said butt strap and bearing respectively on said front axle and 

